Actress Kim Ja-ok dies of cancer at 63

November 15, 2014

Kim Ja-ok’s memorial at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital. (Yonhap)

SEOUL (Yonhap) — Kim Ja-ok, an award-winning South Korean actress, died Sunday of lung cancer. She was 63 years old.

Kim had starred in a series of hit films and television dramas since her debut in 1970. She remained a fixture in TV shows and commercials well past her 50s, and also released an album in 1996 to briefly dabble at a singing career.

Kim underwent successful surgery for colorectal cancer in April 2008 and resumed acting the following month. Industry sources said cancer had spread to her lungs recently, leading to her hospitalization.

Kim garnered multiple awards for her acting in films in the 1970s and had enjoyed a career renaissance since the turn of the millennium with critically acclaimed performances in TV series.

She is survived by her husband, recording artist Oh Seung-keun, and two children.

Very sad!
She was Samsoon’s mother in “My Lovely Samsoon”. I saw that drama about 7 times, and remember her wanting Samsoon to get married, and chasing Samsoon’s ex-fiance’ down the street. I loved her in any drama she was in. She always played nice women, and she was an excellent actress. I will miss her very much. MBCAmerica & KBSAmerica announced her death tonight, and I was shocked. I will miss you very much.